By Shara Lawrence-Weiss
Talk, talk, talk!
Your child can understand words and concepts long before he/she can repeat them. Begin talking to your baby from day one (some would say that even inside the womb, talking is effective). Point out things that are big, small, soft or hard. Talk about animals and where you are going in the car. Talk about music and what’s coming for dinner or…anything! Your child will pick up tones, sounds and concepts and soon enough, you’ll notice the words being repeated. You’ll wonder, “How did she know THAT?!” She knew that because you had been talking about it for ages – that’s how!
Grocery store fun
The grocery store is one of the best places to teach your child. Read signs, labels and prices together. Talk about the red apples, the yellow bananas or the green cucumbers. Is there a big sale on meat or cheese? Point out the sign and say, “That says sale!” An infant may not yet understand what a sale is, but your child will certainly understand the enthusiasm in your voice. All of this is helpful for pre-reading skills. You are setting your child up for early success in literacy, comprehension and reading.
Sing and dance
No home should be without kid CD’s, music and dancing. Children love songs, rhyming and repetition. In our home, we play CD’s every day; anywhere from 3-5 times a day. Our kids have memorized the words on each CD and they ask for them by name now. We love to pretend to be animals or to go HIGH and then LOW. We dance around together and alone, spinning and laughing. I’ve never met a baby or young child who cared about pitch or on-key singing so even if your singing lacks professional style, don’t worry. Sing away! The bonding, alone, is worth the effort.
Read and read again
Most children enjoy having the same book read to them over and over again. This might seem annoying to the parent or caregiver but it’s in your best interest to agree. Kids pick up new sounds, images, colors and concepts each time a story is read. They also memorize the story if it’s read numerous times. Kids repeat what they hear so if you’re attempting to help with pre-reading skills, be sure to read the words accurately and articulately.
Make up stories
Need a little break from the every-day books? That’s okay – make up your own story with your child, pets or family members as the subjects. Allow your daughter/son to add words, thoughts, a middle or ending, etc. The story might not make much sense but that’s okay. You are promoting creativity, critical thinking and of course bonding.
Watch TV together
Our kids love to watch Backyardigans, Ni Hao Kai-Lan and a few other shows. Although it’s hard for us to sit for a kid’s show, they love it when we hang out with them. They point out characters or shapes on the screen, or talk about what’s coming next (our daughter has the episodes memorized now). If someone cries they say, “Ohh…she’s sad!” They really enjoy sharing the shows with us and pointing out what they know and understand. Aside from the bonding aspect, this clearly tells your child that you have an interest in his/her interests and as the parent of any teen will tell you – that’s a BIG deal. So start young!
Dress up time
Playing dress up promotes creativity but so much more. When you dress up with your child, you can then pretend to enter a new land or share a cup of tea or climb a mountain…anything is possible! You can find dress up clothing at yard sales, thrift shops, resale stores, Online and more (be sure to wash everything before wearing). Putting yourself into your child’s play zone is like saying, “I really care about the things you are learning right now and I want to be a part of your journey because you matter to me.”
Explore together
Save up a few empty coffee tins or plastic containers. Go for a nature walk together! Collect cool rocks or interesting sticks. Seek out bugs or fancy leaves to look at. Talk about what you see, find and what you hope to find. “Nature Deficit Disorder” has become more prevalent in the last few years but there’s no reason it has to affect your child. Take time to be outside whether it’s in your back yard, neighborhood or at the local park/river.
Disposable cameras!
The photos never turn out well but these cameras make terrific starting points for small children. Buy a $7 camera at your local store and allow your child to be in charge. Give direction as needed like, “Well, you probably don’t want to take 17 photos of your brother’s shoe. How about we find other things to photograph, too? This will be fun!” When the photos are printed, sit with your child to make a collage and talk about how much fun it was to take those {possibly wacky} pictures.
Local museums and cultural centers
Most towns offer discount days at a children’s museum or science center. Depending on your child’s age, these locations are wonderful for hands-on learning and touching. Spend a day together exploring and allowing your child to ask questions. After the 700th question you’ll be ready to go home but just imagine how much knowledge your child will have gained in that short period of time!
All of these tips can be implemented for little or no money. It’s my belief that every child deserves the best head start in life and that all begins in early childhood!
Until next time...